George Wither

Lord! When Those Glorious Lights I See Poem by George Wither

Lord! when those glorious lights I seeWith which thou hast adorned the skies,Observing how they moved be,And how their splendor fills mine eyes,Methinks it is too large a grace,But that thy love ordained it so,--That creatures in so high a placeShould servants be to man below.

The meanest lamp now shining thereIn size and lustre doth exceedThe noblest of thy creatures here,And of our friendship hath no need.Yet these upon mankind attendFor secret aid or public light;And from the world's extremest endRepair unto us every night.

O, had that stamp been undefacedWhich first on us thy hand had set,How highly should we have been graced,Since we are so much honored yet!Good God, for what but for the sakeOf thy beloved and only Son,Who did on him our nature take,Were these exceeding favors done?

As we by him have honored been,Let us to him due honors give;Let us uprightness hide our sin,And let us worth from him receive.Yea, so let us by grace improveWhat thou by nature doth bestow,That to thy dwelling-place aboveWe may be raised from below.